أَعِذني رَبِّ مِن حَصَرٍ وَعيٍ

وَمِن نَفسٍ أُعالِجُها عِلاجا

O Lord, protect me from distress and fatigue

And from a self I treat with remedies

وَمِن حاجاتِ نَفسي فَاِعصِمَنّي

فَإِنَّ لِمُضمَراتِ النَفسِ حاجا

And from my soul's needs, so guard me

For my soul's hidden thoughts have needs

وَأَنتَ وَلِيُّها وَبَرِئتَ مِنها

إِلَيكَ وَما قَضَيتَ فَلا خِلاجا

You are its guardian, though it came from You

To You is its return, whatever You decree

وَأَنتَ وَهَبتَها كوماً جِلاداً

أُرَجّي النَسلَ مِنها وَالنِتاجا

You granted it a heap of skin and bones

From which I hope for offspring and progeny

فَلَستُ بِحارِمِ الأَضيافِ مِنها

وَجاعِلٍ دونَهُم بِأَبي رِتاجا

I do not refuse guests that come from it

Or bar them while I take refuge in seclusion

وَتَأمُرُني رَبيعَةُ كُلَّ يَومٍ

لَأَشرِيَها وَأَقتَني الدَجاجا

And Rabia urges me each day

To buy and acquire hens

وَما تُغني الدَجاجُ الضَيفَ عَنّي

وَلَيسَ بِنافِعي إِلّا نِضاجا

But hens do not suffice my guest

And benefit me only with eggs

أَأُهلِكُها وَقَد لاقَيتُ فيها

مِرارَ الطَعنِ وَالضَربِ الشِجاجا

Shall I destroy it though I’ve gained from it

The bitterness of blows and stabs of swords?

وَتَذهبُ باطِلاً غَدَماتُ صُهبى

عَلى الأَعداءِ تَختَلِجُ اِختِلاجا

And the blood of free men flows vainly

While the foe writhes in death throes

جَمومُ الشَدِّ شائِلَةُ الذُنابى

تَخالُ بَياضَ غُرَّتِها سِراجا

My knotted destiny, my long tresses

My shiny hair shines like a lamp

وَشَدّي في الكَريهَةِ كُلَّ يَومٍ

إِذا الأَصواتُ خالَطَتِ العَجاجا

And my voice, raised daily in song

When voices mingle with the warbler's trill